02 Location Profiles
Indigo Volunteers partners with organisations across:
Each of these locations have their own unique asylum system, as well as varying climate, culture and Covid-19 regulations. Continue reading for a short introduction to each of our locations
Greece
Islands
The Greek islands of Lesvos, Chios and Samos are often asylum seekers’ first entry point into Europe. In order to reach the continent, people often make the dangerous journey by boat from Turkey and land on these Greek islands. The arrival numbers have dropped since their peak in 2015-2016, but still remain high. On the islands, people are placed in Reception and Identification Centres, otherwise known as RIC that are commonly referred to as camps. These government-run facilities provide accommodation, food and some other basic services. There are strict curfews for camp residents and heavy restrictions are applied to movement in and out of the camps and items residents are allowed to bring in. Access to these facilities by non-residents is very limited by camp management due to the regulations set by the Greek Ministry of Migration’s new laws set out in 2019. Therefore, most of Indigo’s partner organisations on the Greek islands operate outside the camps - either within walking distance or sometimes further away with alternative transport options.
The weather on the Greek islands is not to be underestimated. The winters are very cold, windy and rainy, while the summers are extremely hot. Please ensure that you pack appropriately.
The current Covid-19 regulations for travelling to Greece can be found here. Before and during a volunteer placement, it’s important to keep up with your specific charity to find out about the changing day-to-day regulations.
Learn more and stay updated about the situation on the Greek islands:
Mainland
In the mainland of Greece, most of our partner organisations supporting refugees and migrants are located in the cities of Thessaloniki and Athens. However, a few are located in smaller towns such as Ioannina, Serres, Kavala and more. Displaced people arrive to the mainland either after crossing the land border shared with Turkey, or as a next destination from the Greek islands. Since 2020, the Greek government has been transferring people from the overcrowded camps of the islands to facilities in the mainland. Some are living in housing and flats in the cities, while others are staying in the camps just outside the cities. Many people are also experiencing homelessness or staying in insecure housing. The legal status of people on the move in mainland Greece varies. People may: - Have no documentation at all if they crossed the land border with Turkey - Be in the asylum-seeking process; - Have received a second rejection on their asylum application; - Be recognised as refugees. Although some of Indigo’s partners operate inside the camps themselves, most organisations in the mainland operate outside the camps and support a wide range of displaced people.
The weather in Greece is very warm in the summer and can get very cold in the winter. Ensure that you prepare properly to avoid being caught out while you are volunteering.
The current Covid-19 regulations for travelling to Greece can be found here. Before and during a volunteer placement, it’s important to keep up with your specific charity to find out about the changing day-to-day regulations.
Learn more and stay updated about the situation on the Greek mainland:
Balkans
Since 2015, the Balkan route has become one of the most common entryways to Europe for people on the move. Thousands of people trying to reach Northern and Western Europe via Turkey, Greece, North Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia and Hungary take this route. After 2016, when Hungary started strengthening security at its borders, the Western Balkan route was laid through Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). Serbia and BiH are not EU Member states, and refugees are often unlawfully and violently “push-backed” from the EU external borders, especially Hungary-Serbia and Croatia-BiH, when trying to continue their journey to safety.
Serbia
Before the closure of the original Balkan route, people were only passing through Serbia to get to other destinations. At the end of 2016, people began getting stuck there for longer than intended as the borders with Hungary closed. The majority of these people were staying in squats and abandoned buildings across the country. Today, around 80% are accommodated in formal asylum centres. These centres provide rudimentary but largely safe accommodation in proper buildings (often former military barracks, disused hotels, or portable housing units), and people living there have access to basic facilities. Meals are provided to people three times a day and some organisations can access these facilities to run recreational activities. Most camps are located far away from town centres, meaning people often have to walk a long way or pay for buses or taxis to access other services. Since the pandemic, it has become more common for people - especially those from Burundi - to decide to stay in Serbia and claim asylum instead of moving on to other countries in Europe. While the cost of living for volunteers across Serbia generally remains low, prices in Belgrade (especially for rent and accommodation) have increased significantly since 2022.
Bosnia & Herzegovina
The situation for displaced people in BiH is similar to that in Serbia. For a few years, displaced people were living in the Lipa camp near the town of Bihac. This centre was a makeshift camp with abysmal living conditions - no hygiene facilities, heat or food. In November 2021, it was replaced by the new Lipa camp which now offers residents access to basic services.
The climate in the Balkans is very dependent on the season. Summers tend to get hot (around 30 °C) while winters tend to get very cold (around 0 °C). Be aware of this when packing for your trip.
The current Covid-19 regulations for travelling to Serbia can be found here and for BiH here. Before and during a volunteer placement, it’s important to keep up with your specific charity to find out about the changing day-to-day regulations.
Learn more and stay updated about the situation in the Balkans:
France
Northern France has historically been a stopping point for people on the move - many of whom are trying to reach relatives who have made it to the UK. In recent years, both the French and UK sides of the channel have increased government action to prevent this movement. Before Britain’s exit from the European Union (Brexit), people were trying to cross the border by passing the channel tunnel. In today's post-Brexit world that includes tightened border controls, increasingly more displaced adults and children are attempting to cross via the dangerous sea route. Northern France does not have any formal refugee facilities. After the dismantling of the infamous "Calais Jungle” in 2016, authorities have tried to prevent the appearance of another big refugee camp. Therefore, people aren forced to create and live in multiple smaller settlements. Law enforcement are continuously tasked with breaking down these settlements, often confiscating people’s belongings and arresting them. Sometimes, these evictions can even be violent. With every eviction carried out by the authorities, people are forced to move to different locations. As a result, NGOs and grassroots organisations based in Northern France must often respond to the rapidly changing situation on the ground by adapting their operations. Flexibility is of utmost importance when volunteering in this region and the likelihood of encountering tough situations is high. Volunteers are always advised to check in on their mental health and reach out for support if they need it.
The weather in Northern France is generally cool, rainy and windy all year round but especially in autumn and winter. Make sure to bring appropriate clothing and shoes.
The current Covid-19 regulations for travelling to France can be found here. Before and during a volunteer placement, it’s important to keep up with your specific charity to find out about the changing day-to-day regulations.